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capire

to understand

verb kah-PEE-reh Common

Origin: Latin capere (to take, grasp), via Vulgar Latin *capire

Also means

to realize, to grasp

Usage Note

Capire is a regular -ire (isc-type) verb: capisco, capisci, capisce, capiamo, capite, capiscono. Auxiliary is avere: ho capito ('I understood / I got it'). Capito? alone functions as a tag question meaning 'got it?' or 'understand?' The phrase non ci capisco niente ('I can't make heads or tails of it') uses the ci clitic idiomatically.

Examples

"Capisci quello che dico?"

Natural Translation

Do you understand what I'm saying?

Literal Translation

Understand you that which I-say?

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